Texas officials have announced a significant reduction in regulations for kinship foster families. Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) stated that 195 administrative rules have been eliminated, amounting to the removal of 75% of all such requirements. The goal is to make it easier for relatives to become foster parents while maintaining protections for children.
“Serving as a foster parent is an invaluable way to provide a loving home for a child,” said Governor Abbott. “When we eliminate burdensome and unnecessary rules and regulations so children can stay with their families through kinship foster care, we put those children on the best path forward. Texas will continue to prioritize children in need by removing bureaucratic red tape to keep them with their families.”
First Lady Cecilia Abbott added, “When we work together to put children first, we see amazing things happen. By eliminating the hardships on Texas families who wish to foster a child, we can see families across the state stay together and provide care for their own. I thank all Texans and state agencies for working together to remove burdens and ensure every child in Texas has the opportunity to grow and flourish.”
“By removing unnecessary barriers, we’re helping Texans open their homes to relatives in need,” said HHS Executive Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young. “These changes will give more children in foster care the opportunity to grow up in a familiar, loving environment.”
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Commissioner Audrey O’Neill commented, “Kinship families allow children in foster care to live with caring adults they know and trust. They enable a child to maintain their sense of identity and foster positive self-esteem while remaining connected to their families and communities.”
Kinship foster care places children with relatives or close family friends when parents are unable to provide care. This approach supports family bonds and helps reduce trauma among children. Senate Bill 593, passed by the 88th Texas Legislature and signed into law by Governor Abbott, required HHSC and DFPS to review and streamline regulations affecting kinship foster homes.
A stakeholder group composed of agencies, providers, parents, and advocates participated in this review process. As a result, HHSC removed 195 unnecessary requirements but kept 55 essential rules focused on safeguarding children.
Key regulatory changes include focusing housing inspections on health and environmental safety standards for kinship homes; removing certain training requirements; and reducing documentation needed for over-the-counter medications.
The Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office will continue efforts with HHSC, DFPS, and other agencies to further reduce regulatory obstacles for families.
HHSC remains responsible for licensing child-placing agencies that verify kinship foster homes meet required standards. The agency also conducts criminal background checks on household members within these homes, monitors safety conditions annually through random inspections, and ensures compliance with established standards.
For more information about child care regulation or education resources related to kinship care programs or services available in Texas, residents can visit the HHS website or DFPS website or dial 2-1-1.
